WRAP facing cuts, gaining grant funding

As of Jan. 1 the Women’s Rural Advocacy Programs (WRAP) in Redwood County is without a home; however, while the office may be closed, the work being done by WRAP is continuing.

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By Troy KrauseEditor

Redwood Falls Gazette

By Troy KrauseEditor

Posted Feb. 25, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Updated Feb 25, 2013 at 9:40 AM

By Troy KrauseEditor

Posted Feb. 25, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Updated Feb 25, 2013 at 9:40 AM

As of Jan. 1 the Women’s Rural Advocacy Programs (WRAP) in Redwood County is without a home, as budget cuts forced the organization to close its office. While the office may be closed, the work being done by WRAP is continuing.

“We lost 45 percent of our funding from the Office of Justice Pro-grams,” said Tammy Pitzl, who serves on the WRAP staff for Redwood County.

WRAP, which serves the Redwood, Lyon, Lincoln and Yellow Medicine counties area, has staff who work with those needing the services WRAP offers, but the cuts have left it with one office in Marshall and those like Pitzl who work outside of Mar-shall being classified as “mobile.”

Although there have been changes, the good news is WRAP is still able to provide a program that helps women and children in abusive situations as they try and break free from that abuse.

It is doing that in part through grants it has received, and recently it was awarded some significant grant funds.

WRAP recently was awarded a $10,000 grant from US Bancorp, and the Southwest Initiative Foundation also awarded WRAP a grant in the amount of $1,000.

Pitzl and the rest fo the WRAP staff are extremely appreciative of these grant dollars, because they help to ensure the program is able to continue providing those services that are so necessary in the region.

According to Pitzl, she encounters 15 new abuse victims every quarter, adding just because the office is closed does not mean her work has diminished. According to WRAP in the area there were 14 women and one man who were killed as a result of domestic violence. Domestic violence impacts one out of every four women in the U.S. That person could be your mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend…or it might be you.

Pitzl said WRAP continues to look for added grant dollars, and she said the group is also looking for added board members who help with overseeing the finances and assist in writing grants.

If you would like to have more information about WRAP or you are in need of help, contact WRAP at (507) 637-3040 or visit www.letswrap.com.